Philadelphia Phillies Payroll In 2016 + Contracts Going Forward

The Phillies have not had a winning season since 2011 after putting forth a decade straight of them. A promising second half to the season – couple with full seasons by Aaron Nola and Maikel Franco could have them inch closer back to achieving that mark in the next few years. The management finally started the rebuild halfway through the year – and the financial flexibility in going forward should really be shaped up in a few more years. Philadelphia has $110 MIL in approximate Team Salary already committed for next year. I would keep the course and build through the Draft. Spending money on any premiere Free Agents is a little premature right now. In addition, the club could really trade away anything not nailed down for 2017.

The Philadelphia should have a payroll of near $110 MIL after Arbitration dollars are handed out next year. Of that money,Ryan Howardand 3 players (Cole Hamels,Cliff LeeandChase Utley) rake in $49 MIL of the salary on players that no longer play on the club, or in Howard’s case – are very unproductive.

I love the deals the franchise has made since the Trade Deadline – and even loved some of the Veterans they have picked up for the coming year likeCharlie MortonandJeremy Hellickson.

Between the half a dozen Starters or so they have acquired through trades, and their nice young Starter inAaron Nola, they now have a promising future in the Rotation.

Mark Appelwas also acquired in theKen Gilestrade. This is a #1 overall pick who may just need some more seasoning in the Minors.

The albatross of a contract is still the Howard $25 MIL on this year’s book and a Buyout of $10 MIL for next year in lieu of another $25 MIL in 2017. Maybe he can have a decent start and be traded at the Deadline, even if the Phillies pick up most of the Buyout money owed. The Big Piece did still crack 23 HRs and add 77 RBI in just 476 AB during 2015. Not abhorrent for the position, but really bad when he is making $25 MIL per year. The Phils hope he can have a great 1st half in 2016 – to make him available for a deal. Philadelphia will have to eat a lot of his remainder salary including the pending Buyout, but maybe they could get a prospect back.

Lee, Hamels and Utley will also be off the books for good after next campaign.

I like the way the management is clearing the deck. The Phillies can spend money if they wish too, but building through the Draft and by trading Veterans is a better way of doing this.

The fans have jumped ship on attending games at Citizens Bank Ball Park. They finished 14th out of 15 clubs with 1.83 MIL fans through the wickets. This was a franchise that sold out for almost a decade when the team was good.

It is okay to go through the rigors of rebuilding. Just look at the Houston Astros.

Nobody has a contract past the year of 2018. This is a ton of financial flexibility in going forward. Howard, Harrison and Ruiz will be gone by then.

The team only has 3 guys on Arbitration clocks inFreddy Galvis(1st year),Darin Ruf(2nd year) and Jeremy Hellickson (3rd year). They also have Morton on a one year deal with a $1 MIL Buyout. Any of these guys could be trade bait at the Deadline.

The Washington Nationals are quickly aging. Yes the Mets have great young pitching, but give them a few years when they exponentially go up in Arbitration Dollars and players becoming more expensive to keep, and the Phillies could really gain on them soon.

This is the price to pay for having the greatest time ever as an organization from 2001 – 2011. A small price to pay for 2 – 3 years.

Phillies fans will come back in droves when the club is good again. This squad could easily carry a Total Team Salary of north of $150 MIL per year as well. The timing is just not to spend the money foolishly.

Guaranteed Contracts/POS/AGE:

Ryan Howard 1B (36): Makes $25 MIL in 2016, and has a Team Option in 2017 for $25 MIL that carries a $10 MIL Buyout.

Matt Harrison SP (30): Earns $13.2 MIL for both 2016 and 2017 and has a Team Option for $13.3 MIL for 2018 if he throws 200 Innings in each season from 2015 – 2017 (He failed to reach it). The Buyout is $2 MIL.

Carlos Ruiz C (37): Makes $8.5 MIL in 2016 and there is a $4.5 MIL Team Option for 2017 – that carries a 500K Buyout.

Charlie Morton SP (32): The new Phils Pitcher earns $8 MIL in 2016 – and has a Team Option for $9 MIL in 2017 – with a Buyout clause of $1 MIL to the club.

Total Money for this Category – $8.4 MIL: Total Team Salary – $109.0 MIL.

Philadelphia held a massive consecutive sellout streak from the time CBP was in its first year until the latter parts of their team starting to decline in 2012. In 2015, the franchise finished 14th out of 15 clubs at the turnstiles with just 1.8 Million fans. This was the second straight year of a huge decline. For those reasons it is okay to slowly build this team up with salary. In a few years the club can go after Free Agents when the core has matured a little bit.

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